ALTON Towers theme park in Staffordshire had a bumper number of visitors last year.

Merlin Entertainments – which owns Alton Towers as well as Madame Tussauds – has said its attractions welcomed more than three million extra visitors last year despite the recession.

Merlin said total visitor numbers rose by 3.4 million to 38.5 million in the year to December 26, as underlying profits rose 17 per cent to £238.6 million.

Chief executive Nick Varney called the business “recession-resilient rather than recession-proof”, but added: “People still have high up on their demand list quality days out and quality short breaks. Even in difficult times, you need somewhere to take the kids.”

He also highlighted the mix and location of attractions as a reason for the group’s resilience. Around 90 per cent of visitors to Alton Towers are UK residents, while around 70 per cent of customers at the London Eye are foreign.